MBB Advances in Cayman Islands Classic with 72-69 Win Over Akron

GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman — No. 16 Clemson University men’s basketball held off Akron in the first round of the Cayman Islands Classic on Monday morning with a 72-69 victory to advance in the winner’s bracket of the tournament. Clemson will face the winner of Illinois State and Georgia at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The Tigers (4-0) got a season-high 22 points from their point guard Shelton Mitchell, including Elijah Thomas’ 12th career double-double to down the Zips (3-1). Thomas tied his season high in points (15) and set a new season-high with 12 rebounds in the victory.

Aamir Simms posted his fourth double-digit scoring game of the season (four in a row). He scored in double-figures three times last season. Simms also continued his streak of hitting his first 3-point attempt to four games.

Following a jumper from the Zips’ Tyler Cheese, Akron took a 23-22 lead with 5:55 left in the opening stanza. From there, the Tigers would finish the last six minutes of the half on a 8-1 run.

In the second half, Marcquise Reed scored 12 of his 16 points on 4-for-6 shooting to help finish off the Zips. Thomas nearly posted a double-double in the second half with eight points and eight rebounds.

The Tigers pushed its lead to a game-high 15 points with 9:37 left in the second half following a three-point play from Mitchell.

In the last 10 minutes of regulation, the Tigers won the game seemingly three different times. Clemson built three double-digit leads during that time, but Akron wouldn’t go away and eventually lead to a three-point win for the Tigers following a last-second three-point heave from the Zips.

Notes: Clemson starts 4-0 for the just the second time under Brad Brownell … Clemson moves to 2-0 all-time against Akron (both games played outside the continental United States) … Brad Brownell wins his 153rd game at Clemson – leaving him four wins shy of passing Bill Foster for second all-time in program history … Shelton Mitchell scored a team-high and season-high 22 points … the total was Mitchell’s sixth 20-point game of his career … Mitchell finished with nine free throw makes –– tying his career best … Mitchell tied his career-best with four steals in the contest … Mitchell’s 15 shot attempts tied a career high … Elijah Thomas notched his 12th career double-double (posted nine last season) … Thomas grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds … Aamir Simms extended his streak of double-digit scoring to four-straight games (three such games all of last season) … Simms also extended his streak of games in which he has hit his first 3-point attempt to four-straight contests.